FBI director rips release of Lockerbie bomberMueller's scathing letter: ‘Action makes a mockery of the rule of law’Image: FBI Director Robert MuellerJ. Scott Applewhite / APFBI Director Robert Mueller, who spent years as a Justice Department lawyer working on the Lockerbie bombing case, sent a scathing letter to Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. Mueller ended the letter to MacAskill, who released the bomber, with "Where, I ask, is the justice?"

WASHINGTON - FBI Director Robert Mueller thundered down on Scotland's justice minister for releasing the Lockerbie bomber, an act that "gives comfort to terrorists" all over the world.

Mueller sent a scathing letter to Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who cited compassionate grounds in his decision to let Abdel Baset al-Megrahi return to Libya because he has prostate cancer and was given only months to live by British doctors.

The angry tone of the letter is out of character with the normally reserved Mueller, indicating his outrage is personal as well as professional. He also sent copies to the families of the Lockerbie victims.Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

"I have made it a practice not to comment on the actions of other prosecutors," Mueller wrote. "Your decision to release Megrahi causes me to abandon that practice in this case. I do so because I am familiar with the facts, and the law. ... And I do so because I am outraged at your decision, blithely defended on the grounds of 'compassion.'"

Before he became FBI director, Mueller spent years as a Justice Department lawyer leading the investigation into the 1988 airplane bombing that killed 270 people, most of them Americans.

Mueller said Thursday's release was "as inexplicable as it is detrimental to the cause of justice. Indeed your action makes a mockery of the rule of law."

His letter was dated Friday, and was made public Saturday.

Release 'gives comfort to terrorists'Releasing the convicted bomber "gives comfort to terrorists around the world who now believe that regardless of the quality of the investigation ... the terrorist will be freed by one man's exercise of 'compassion.'"

A statement from Scotland's government on Saturday noted Mueller has "strong views" because of his involvement in the case. "But he should also be aware that while many families have opposed Mr. MacAskill's decision, many others have supported it," the statement said.

Bert Ammerman of Riverside, N.J., who lost his brother Tom Ammerman in the bombing, praised Mueller for the "frankness and honesty" in his condemnation of the release.

Mueller recounted his own emotional experiences leading the investigation — seeing a teenage victim's single sneaker, a Syracuse University sweatshirt, toys in the suitcase of a businessman heading home to see his wife and children for Christmas.

"Your action," he wrote MacAskill, "makes a mockery of the grief of the families who lost their own on December 21, 1988. You could not have spent much time with the families, certainly not as much time as others involved in the investigation and prosecution."

He ended the Lockerbie letter with a frustrated question: "Where, I ask, is the justice?"

President Barack Obama on Friday called the elaborate homecoming in Libya for the freed bomber "highly objectionable."

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SSC wrote:This has been on the news for 2 days, today it is hinted Englands Queen may have had a roll in requesting the release, this is still being investigated.

Assuming yer talking about the Lockerbee bomber,my understanding is that there was to be a rally with thousands of participants and a full blown news conference but Daffy Khadafi squelched it. The sonofabitch shoulda been beaten to death in prison.

rosco 357

Registration date : 2008-04-18Number of posts : 6718Gender : Quote : Never Quote You May Have To Back It UpReputation : 1Points : 7397

SSC wrote:This has been on the news for 2 days, today it is hinted Englands Queen may have had a roll in requesting the release, this is still being investigated.

i dont usually like to post without a new article to post with it, as u know i post my words then the article, so take this with a big grain of salt, i think i heard just a tid bit, that england got some economic trade out of the realease deal, but please i have no article or proof, so it may not be true, but i did not dream it either lol, take care